When recently asked how he spends his days, Donnie Urban joked that he often engages in “minor adulting with major relaxation.”

But as he went through his schedule — which includes work, chores, volunteering and watching  the occasional hockey game — it became clear that Donnie keeps himself extremely busy. 

Donnie, 23, lives on a busy family farm. With 10 brothers and sisters on the property as well as multiple dogs, cats, chickens, ducks, goats and two cows, there’s always something to do.

But with all his different commitments, he often isn’t home for very long.

Donnie grew up in Virginia with his family settling in Licking County in 2017. He finished high school through homeschooling. 

After earning his diploma, Donnie was looking for purpose and a way to gain work experience. 

His family is active in their church community and he participated in some volunteer events through Knights of Columbus when his family lived in Virginia.

Remembering those experiences, he started volunteering more often — helping out with grounds keeping at a convent and serving food and cleaning in several school cafeterias. He’s also continued his involvement with Knights of Columbus.

His longest volunteer commitment has been at the Food Pantry Network of Licking County, where he’s helped out for the past four years. 

Crushing cardboard boxes, unloading and loading items and filling carts helped him gain the skills needed to get his job at Kroger.

He was hired at the 21st Street location almost 18 months ago and does “a little bit of everything” from cleaning, bagging and restocking to using a gaylord dumper and a baler.

He works full time at the grocery store and has also picked up seasonal work around the holidays at UPS, running packages from the trucks. He’s considering picking up more UPS shifts this summer.

Although he likes getting food from Bummies, Red Oak Pub and Elliotts, Donnie said he’s completed Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace courses and tries to save most of his money.

His ultimate goal is to become a Catholic brother or priest. 

“It’s a step by step process, “ he said. “Getting and maintaining a job was an important step. Living on my own is also a big thing,”

Donnie is taking steps toward that goal, living in his own apartment on his family’s property. As he continues on the journey toward his goals, he said he will continue working and volunteering in ways that give him purpose.